Powell Receives 18-Month Ban For Doping Offence

Former world 100m record holder Asafa Powell, has been banned for 18 months after being found guilty of a doping offence.

A panel of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission announced the decision in Kingston on Thursday.

The 31-year-old Jamaican tested positive for the banned stimulant named Oxilofrone at his country’s national trials in June 2013, and has been on suspension from competing since the case was disclosed a month later.

Powell, who has described the decision as unfair and unjust, said that he would appeal the ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

His suspension began from the date of his sample collection on June 21, 2013, which means he would be eligible to return to competition on December 20 2014.

Powell said in a statement: “This ruling is not only unfair, it is patently unjust.

“This is the first time in nearly 12 years of being in the sport and over 150 tests that I have had an adverse finding.

“It is for a stimulant that is only banned during competition and experts have declared has no performance-enhancing effects.

“Sanctions for a stimulant and this kind of infraction usually range from public warnings to a ban of three months, six months in the most extreme cases.

“My team has begun preparations for an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.”

If upheld, it means Powell would miss the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and he would be 32 by the time his suspension ends later in the year.